2010 Shelby GT500 to Be Auctioned...

... together with two other Mustang GT concepts at the 7th annual Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Collector Car Auction, which began yesterday in Florida. The auction if part of the anniversary year, as the manufacturer is celebrating the "pony's" 45th birthday.

The money raised above the MSRP price from the sale of the GT500 will benefit the Carroll Shelby Children’s Foundation, an organization meant to help children battling life-threatening illnesses and promote the importance of organ and tissue donation.

The sale of the two GT concepts will be donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, a leader in research leading to a cure for Type 1 diabetes. Craig Jackson, Barrett-Jackson CEO appreciated Ford's initiative, as "it's rare for a concept vehicle, especially one as iconic as a Ford Mustang, to be sold to the public.”

“During the last three years, Ford and Barrett-Jackson have raised more than $2.6 million for charity through the auction of Ford vehicles. The winning bidders will get a chance to own an enduring piece of Mustang history and contribute to important charity efforts at the same time,” Fritz Wilke, Ford Performance manager said.

This is only the beginning of the anniversary celebrations dedicated to the Mustang. Birmingham, Alabama is the place where, on April the 17th, more than 2,500 enthusiasts are expected to show up and show off their Mustangs.

"We have people coming in from 15 foreign countries, including Australia, Denmark and France. And some of them may be bringing their cars with them," Jim Farley, Ford Group VP of Marketing and Communications said in a release.